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What you need to do

Commercial hunters may supply wild or game estate meat to a primary processor – such as a slaughterhouse – as regulated meat.

But to supply killed wild or game estate animals to a primary processor, you must meet requirements under the Animal Products Act 1999:

  1. Become a listed hunter.
  2. List with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) as a listed hunter.
  3. Develop an operation manual and have it approved by the primary processor you supply.

Animal Product Notice: Production, Supply and Processing [PDF, 2.6 MB]

Become a listed hunter

You can be a listed hunter of one or both of the following:

  • wild animals – meaning that you hunt wild animals for supply to a primary processor
  • game estate animals – meaning that you hunt animals from a game estate for supply to a primary processor.

To become a listed hunter, you need to pass a food safety test. This checks that you know about:

  • the food safety risks involved with wild animals or game estate animals
  • the controls used to manage these risks.

If you want to sit the test, either:

Preparing for the test

We've developed a guide that sets out the information you need to pass the test. It also tells you about the format and conditions of the test.

Listed hunter and listed game estate suppliers of wild and game estate animals [PDF, 1.4 MB]

To remain listed, you need to re-sit the listed hunter test every 3 years. It's your responsibility to make sure you to do this.

List as a listed hunter

Once you've passed the test, you can apply to be added to our public list of New Zealand listed hunter of wild and game estate animals.

Listed of hunters

Application form AP33 – Certification of supplier of wild/game estate animals [PDF, 279 KB]

Develop your operation manual

To be able to supply a primary processor with hunted animal material, you must:

  • have an operation manual
  • get the primary processor's approval for it.

Your operation manual:

  • must have information about how, when, and where you get the wild or game estate animals that you supply
  • can be in any format, as long as the procedures are clear and easy to follow.

Section 6 of our guide has information to help you develop your operations manual.

Guide: Listed hunter and listed game estate suppliers of wild and game estate animals [PDF, 1.4 MB]

Verification of your operations manual

You're responsible for making sure your operations manual is accurate and current at all times.

Verifiers from MPI may check that the information in your manual is correct. They will do this either:

  • at the processing plant, or
  • at your operation (this is called field verification).

Verification costs are paid by the primary processor.

Who to contact

If you have questions about commercial hunters and listed wild or game meat suppliers, email info@mpi.govt.nz

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